365... Tech

Gajitz /////////////////////////////////////////// Healer, Heal Thyself: Amazing Self-Healing Hydrogel Material Posted: 22 Jan 2010 01:00 PM PST http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gajitz/~3/v3S2mf6SVww/?utm_source=feed...      [ Filed under Science or in the New Materials category ] When we think of peak oil and how best to cut down on our fossil fuel   consumption, most of us only think of transportation alternatives. But the   fact is that producing plastics also uses up quite a lot of oil. Could   finding an alternative to plastic be a solution to our dwindling oil   supply? Researchers at the University of Tokyo think its a step in the   right direction, and they think that their new invention could be just the   alternative material we need. Takuzo Aida and his team created a hydrogel   thats strong enough to support itself on a self-standing bridge (see   above), flexible and  maybe best of all  self-healing. The material is composed of around 95 percent water mixed with small   amounts of microscopic clay disks, sodium polyacrylate, and a special   molecule called G3 binder. The gel is very easily formed and is ready to   use within three minutes. The strength and elasticity of the material   depend on how much of each component ingredient is included in the mix. Due   to its high water content and ability to heal itself, the new material   could be highly useful in tissue engineering and prosthetics. As of now,   the components used are still derived from fossil fuels, but hopefully   non-petroleum sources could be found to make the compound more   environmentally friendly while maintaining its beneficial qualities.            Keep Going - Check out this Great Related Gajitz Article:              New Ultra-Slippery Alloy is Second Hardest Known Material Decreasing energy consumption isn't all about finding alternative sources   of energy. It's also about increasing the efficiency of existing machines.   One of the simplest (yet most challenging) ways to do that is to decrease   the friction created by machines. Friction decreases energy efficiency and   makes parts wear out quickly, meaning that replacement parts have to be   manufactured and installed...                                         Click Here to Read More      [ GoGoGajitz! - Filed under Science or in the New Materials category ] /////////////////////////////////////////// Digital Gastronomy: Food Printer is Must-Have Future Gadget Posted: 22 Jan 2010 07:00 AM PST http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Gajitz/~3/EIpOuSrcego/?utm_source=feed...      [ Filed under Gadgets or in the Various Gizmos category ] Not everyone can be a gourmet chef, but we all still need to eat, right?   What that means for most culinary-challenged people is lots and lost of   fast food. But in the future, maybe youll be able to give the drive-through   a rest and get a healthy, delicious meal in your kitchen with just a few   button presses. No, were not predicting pizza delivery  were talking about   high-tech food printers. Just like 3D printers, which have quickly gone   from sci-fi to reality and now to almost mundane, the 3D food printer may   soon become an everyday sight in kitchens. There are actually several designs being developed right now, but this one,   called Cornucopia, is from MIT grad students Marcelo Coehlo and Amit Zoran.   The contraption works by storing and cooling a variety of ingredients in   the containers on top. When the user initiates meal-making, the machine   goes to work combining ingredients _layer_ by _layer_, then heating or cooling   them in the chamber below. According to its creators, the machine can   produce textures and flavors that wouldnt be possible through traditional   cooking. A big part of the design is the health factor. Ultimately, the user   controls the quality and origins of the ingredients but doesnt have to   learn the fine art of preparing the food. Users can customize foods and   entire meals _base_d on parameters like calories, carbohydrates or fat   content. For those of us who want to eat healthier but are a bit lost in   the kitchen, being able to effortlessly prepare a nutritious meal could be   life-changing. The designers have included a user-friendly interface that has intuitive   controls and allows for a large degree of customization. The machine is   even smart enough to know when a particular ingredient is running low and   automatically order more. If all of this sounds a little far-fetched right   now, maybe its because this is an entirely new direction for food   preparation that hasnt yet been explored, either in real life or even in   science fiction. But its not only possible  it actually seems likely, given   the success of 3D _object_ printers.            Keep Going - Check out this Great Related Gajitz Article:              Chess Chicanery: Georgian-Era Hoax Gadget Fooled World Far before there were Nigerians with money accessibility issues, there were   inventors who wanted to impress royalty. Perhaps the best   technology-related hoax of all time was the Mechanical Turk, a   chess-playing machine that won nearly every game it played. While it was   presented as an elaborate automaton, it was later revealed to be an equally   elaborate fake. The Turk was built in the l...                                         Click Here to Read More      [ GoGoGajitz! - Filed under Gadgets or in the Various Gizmos category ] This posting includes a media file: